Hawthorn's storied run in 2024 has them on the verge of returning to finals for the first time since 2018, which is largely to the dismay of rival clubs and fans.

A powerhouse in the 1970s, 1980s and once again in the 2010s, it would be remiss to not admire the brown and gold for their continued success over many eras.

But after a six-year, long-ish stint out of premiership contention (apologies to every team except Geelong, Sydney, Richmond and Collingwood), the metaphoric drought is heading toward a heavy rain downfall of sustained success.

How?

Despite being in extremely different eras of football, similarities can be drawn from Sam Mitchell's Hawks to Alastair Clarkson's of yesteryear.

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Briefly touching on Clarkson's tenure from 2005-2021, whose rebuilding model, coined the 'Hawk-print', focused heavily on initially hitting the draft and then strategically trading in ready-made players (and maximising free agency) once the premiership window was opened.

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This looked like 10 top-30 selections across the 2004 and '05 Drafts as well as consecutive years of luring mature talent across to Hawthorn, such as Shaun Burgoyne (2009), Josh Gibson (2009), David Hale (2010), Jack Gunston (2011), Brian Lake (2012) and Ben McEvoy (2013).

All significant contributors to at least two of the three flags (2013-2015) won in succession.

Sam Mitchell was also a big part of the nearly-unrivalled accomplishment that took place between 2008 and 2016 for the Hawks, becoming a Brownlow medallist, five-time Peter Crimmins medallist, three-time All-Australian, four-time premiership player and captain.

He's lived 'Hawk-print'. He's breathed it. It's embedded into his psyche.

However, the current path the Hawks are going down suggests they are utilising a more updated model of what was once a framework for success.

So can it be done in the modern era?

As it stands, with the excitement currently surrounding the 'Showbiz Hawks', the answer would be a middling yes, purely due to its infancy.

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And because of it, the jury is still out.

After their straight sets finals exit in 2018, whilst Clarkson was at the helm before handing the reins over to Mitchell ahead of 2022, the club brought in a heap of talent across the next five years to act as a launching pad for the next dynasty.

Is this group the next Hawthorn dynasty?

PLAYER YEAR DRAFT TYPE DRAFT PICK
Will Day 2019 National 13
Finn Maginness 2019 National 29
Denver Grainger-Barras 2020 National 6
Seamus Mitchell 2020 National 29
Josh Ward 2021 National 7
Sam Butler 2021 National 23
Connor Macdonald 2021 National 26
Jai Newcombe 2021 Mid-Season 2
Cam Mackenzie 2022 National 7
Josh Weddle 2022 National 18
Henry Hustwaite 2022 National 37
Jack O'Sullivan 2022 National 46
Bailey Macdonald 2022 National 51
Nick Watson 2023 National 5
Will McCabe 2023 National 19
Bodie Ryan 2023 National 46
Calsher Dear 2022 National 56

 

Now like every club, not every pick turns out to be a diamond in the rough, nor will it be as successful as first predicted.

But clearly, there's a heap of young talent that is littered amongst experienced campaigners like Luke Breust, James Sicily, Karl Amon, Jack Gunston, Jarman Impey and Sam Frost that can help guide the club back into premiership contention.

Not to mention the occupancies on the list held by Blake Hardwick, James Worpel, Jack Scrimshaw, Conor Nash, Changkuoth Jiath and Dylan Moore, who are in, or entering, their prime.

Add that to the inclusions of Karl Amon, Lloyd Meek, Mabior Chol, Massimo D'Ambrosioย and Jack Ginnivan.

This phase perfectly segues into the next stage of a 'Hawk-print', which is to attract ready-made talent that is ripe for the picking.

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Hawthorn is already heavily into St Kilda's unrestricted free agent Josh Battle, while an offer to GWS utility Harry Perryman has been made.

Recent reports suggest the club has cooled its pursuit of Western Bulldogs' Bailey Smith, believing Geelong to be the favoured destination, but has upped the ante on its pursuit of West Coast key defender Tom Barrass.

Hawks Head of Football Rob McCartney made it abundantly clear that the club will target key position players to fill roles at both ends of the field, saying the development of Dear and Chol, as well as the potential of Mitch Lewis when he returns, doesn't change a thing.

โ€œWe've said even with Mitch, if the opportunity arose for us to get a key forward and a key defender, we'd be in the market for both of those positions," McCartney said onย SEN last week.

โ€œSo we've got a little bit of depth, but we always knew that even with Mitch, we were going to be in the hunt for another key forward over this journey.

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โ€œSo that doesn't change. Obviously, we still would look to add a key forward to our group, but that's not because of Mitch not being part of 2025."

The good news for Hawthorn fans is that they are quickly becoming a destination club once again.

The club boasts a membership tally of 80,000-plus; putting new roots down in Dingley with state-of-the-art facilities; and a coach and club that welcomes unique personalities.

Just ask Ginnivan when he moved from Collingwood to Hawthorn after securing a premiership.

โ€œI have one year there (Collingwood) and no one has reached out wanting me to stay,โ€ the antagonist said on the Tommy Talks podcast earlier in the year.

โ€œAnd I have Hawthorn - where I have had 10 players message me saying โ€˜come to the Hawks'.

โ€œThere were so many Hawks boys that messaged me โ€ฆ that made me feel really special and I am loving it at the Hawks.โ€

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Mitchell isn't averse to showing his caring and emotional side, something that former teammate Jordan Lewis questioned: โ€œHis greatest challenge was โ€“ could he connect with the group emotionally?โ€

And in the modern era, that's just as pivotal as the strategies and tactics on game day.

It's too early to tell if 'Hawk-print' can stand the test of time. It worked in the mid-2000s and 2010s.

But the rejuvenated, refurbished, recalibrated and rewired model is well and truly on par with what was developed two decades ago.

Could history be repeating itself?